A l o c a l g u i d e t o C r e a t i v i t y , W e l l - B e i n g & G r e e n R e s o u r c e s

malvernhillistic.co.uk Nov/Dec 2012

A PASSION FOR ENGLISH WOODLANDS

KEEP CALM AND MEDITATE

TAI CHI TAOIST YOGA

PERPETUAL LANDSCAPE

INSI

DE

Workshops

Weekly Classes

Community News

Welcome to the 4th issue of Malvern Hillistic

Malvern Hillisticis an alternative guide to Malvern and local area.

Malvern Hillistic is a free

bi-monthly guide to workshops, talks, events, complementary health, creative,

nature, green resources and more.

2000 copies are currently distributed to cafes, shops, various venues, therapy

centres and households surrounding the hills.

Subscribe to Malvern Hillistic £12 per year

Email teena@uk2.net

Printed by Aspect Design, Malvern.

Deadline for Jan/Feb Hillistic is

Monday 10th

December

To place an advert or to write a FREE

article please contacts Teena on... Mob: 07788 632441

teena@uk2.net www.malvernhillistic.co.uk

Advertising

¼ page £22 or (£58 for 3 issues) 63mm x 92.5mm

½ page £40 or (£110 for 3 issues) 130mm x 92.5mm

Full A5 page £75 or (£210 for 3 issues)

About Malvern Hillistic How to Advertise

TAKE OUT 3 ADVERTS AND WRITE AN

A5 ARTICLE FOR FREE

I recognise that these conditions are multi-faceted and that one therapy, while helpful to an extent, may not always be sufficient to support a sufferer to full recovery. I offer Packages of Care to fully support a client on the Chrysalis Effect Programme. I bring everything to them, so they no longer have to drain what little energy they have searching for information or therapists. Clients are encouraged to put their energy into recovery as they gain information from specialists, are inspired by recoverers’ stories and work through the many activities that will help them move forward I lead a team of dedicated therapists and we work together to support you through to recovery. There is no quick fix for these conditions and it can take a long time to fully restore vitality and wellbeing. I provide a Holistic approach addressing the Mind, Body, Spirit and the external world. Within the Chrysalis Effect Online Supported Recovery Programme there are 8 Key areas that have to be tackled through the 6 Phases of Recovery to enable clients to regain their health and wellbeing. I offer weekly support via email and monthly, more in depth support, at the clinic or by phone / Skype if unable to attend. Arrange a Free 30 minute introductory consultation and find out more about how the Chrysalis Effect Recovery Programme can help. Contact: Sally Pasquill Chrysalis Effect Practitioner Homeopath and Iridologist sallypasquill@hotmail.co.uk 01886 832549 07504280486 Thursdays 9-1pm The NTC at The Fold, Bransford.

changing daily, that leave them exhausted, often in pain, and struggling to maintain a normal life. Daily demands of work / school / family / home commitments become mountains to climb and can lead to total collapse. These conditions are becoming more evident and can be classed as the 21st Century Syndrome, with even young children suffering and struggling to access school or mix with their friends. The effects can be devastating – leading to financial difficulties and relationship problems. It can lead to isolation / depression with feelings of frustration and despair of ever recovering.

Over 1.2 million Google searches for ME / CFS, and 1.8 million on Fibromyalgia, each month emphasises the extent of suffering across the UK. Much information is about how to ‘manage’ the symptoms and learn to live with the condition. Have you been given the help and advice

you need to recover?

It is common for sufferers to ‘Practitioner hop’ from therapist to therapist desperately trying to gain improvement. Often the therapies will support progress for a while and then the sufferer can get stuck, especially with relapses. They then lose faith in the therapy and move on.

How can I help?

As a Chrysalis Effect Practitioner I have been specially trained to provide holistic long-term support to people committed to recovering from these illnesses.

Can you recover from Chronic Exhaustive Conditions?

Sufferers of ME / CFS / Fibromyalgia / Adrenal Fatigue and Thyroid conditions have to cope with many symptoms, often

re|fashion RECUT REMAKE REVAMP

creating new life from quality clothing

What’s at the back of your wardrobe?

The Fabric Agency selling & buying high quality

vintage fabrics

now stocking a growing selection of beautiful wools, tweeds, glazed

cottons and crepes for dressmakers and fabric enthusiasts

Contact 07854 486869 The Fold, Studio 3, Bransford

NOVEMBER Well Dressing…Earl Beauchamps Spout,

Cowleigh Rd. All souls day. 2nd

Nov. Tie a ribbon in memory of a loved one.

Massage for people with Cancer. For

qualified practitioners. With Andy Fagg. 3

rd & 4

th Nov Contact Sarah 01386 861931

The Healing Power of Sound and Song

5th

Nov 7 – 9pm Quaker Friends Meeting House ffi: Susan 01684 892316

Wrekin Forum. Talks 7th

Nov 11am- 1pm

The Tree of Life magazine, by Joginder Bola. @The Fold. ffi Claire McDonald 01886 884 888

Drawing workshops. Right side of the brain. Classes 7

th & 21

st Nov. ffi Tony

07771 964613

Transitions Fairtrade Fair. 10th

Nov @

10am Littelton rooms, Church Street.

The Sleep of the Yogis - Yoga Nidra

Workshop with Theo Wildcroft Open to all. 10th Nov 10-4pm Hilly07828032643

Coppicing courses. Introduction to…

10-11th

Nov. ffi: Phil 07946 169123

Farmers Market. 17th

Nov

3rd

Saturday of each month. Great Malvern town. 10am – 2pm.

Yoga Teacher Training in Malvern. Friends

of Yoga society qualification. Commences Sat 24

th Nov. ffi: Debbie 07929 661245.

Freeing Your Wild Voice: 24th

Nov 1:30 –

5:30pm. Quaker Friends Meeting House. ffi: Susan 01684 892316

The world of Bowen. (Intro workshop to

learn about this hands-on therapy.Sunday 25

th Nov. Ffi; Tim 01684 567721

Fold Market. 25th

Nov 4th

Sunday of each

month. 23/09/12 10am – 2pm,

Workshops /Events

Covered Market @ The Fold 4

th Sunday Every Month 10-2pm

We do not always need to see the Magic to know

it’s happening all around us…

DECEMBER The Merry Tiller, 1

st Dec @ The Fold for

8.30pm ffi: Eric 01886 832029

General Yoga, Inner Place, Ledbury. 9.30-

11am.ffi: Jo 07976 882252

Malvern Christmas Light Switch on.1st

Dec.

Christmas Market. Malvern 1st

Dec

Repair Café: Malvern Cube, Albert Road.

1st

Dec @ 10am. Damaged items repaired for free.

The Healing Power of Sound and Song

3rd

Dec 7 - 9 pm Quaker Friends Meeting House ffi: Susan 01684 892316

Drawing workshops, Right side of the

brain. Classes 5th

& 11th

Dec. ffi Tony 07771 964613

Donkey led Carol Service. 12.30pm til

5pm. Saturday 15th

Dec. Abbey Hotel, Malvern. ffi: Val 07788 111113

Wrekin Forum. 5th Dec. 11am-1pm. Yoga

as a Spiritual Journey by Gail Charlton. The Fold. ffi: Claire 01886 884 888

Calling in your life partner 8th

Dec. 1.30-

5.30pm. Friends Meeting House, Orchard Road. ffi: Susan 01684 892319

Beyond Bowen: NDT Introductory course.

8-9th

Dec. ffi; Tim 01684 567721

Malvern Hillistic deadline for advertising in Jan/Feb issue. 10

th Dec.

Transitions Green Forum. Sustainable

Living. Malvern Cube, Albert Road @ 12

th Dec, 12.30pm.

Farmers Market. 15th

December 3rd

Saturday of each month. Great Malvern

town. 10am – 2pm.

Birth 2012. Meditation on the Beacon.

12.12pm on the 22nd

Dec. ffi: Emma 01684 577867.

Fold Covered Market. 4th

Sunday of each

month. 23rd

Dec @ The Fold Bransford. 10am-2pm.

Workshops & Events

Keep Calm and Meditate

Many people who look at this journal will

have tried meditation at some time! There

are many different kinds – maybe you’ve

tried a guided meditation where the

meditator is led through a tranquil scene, or mindfulness meditation where the meditator

watches their thoughts and feelings come and go like clouds across the sky. Many people will

have tried transcendental meditation where you repeat a word or phrase, a mantra, which has

been given to you.

These are all useful in their own way but

to me, meditation is not a way of escaping

from the world into a fantasy place. Nor is

it easy to just “watch your thoughts”

without some skill in training the mind to

be calm and settled. The Buddha described

the mind as being like a monkey – jumping

here and there and grabbing whatever

interests it. A more modern picture might

be that a person’s mind is like a car driver

who is driving a carload of passengers all

of whom are talking about their own

thing! Your mind jumps all over the place,

sometimes to the past, often to the future,

in a kind of constant chatter, which doesn’t

help you get anywhere. Very rarely do we

live in the moment.

People start to meditate for different

reasons – they may have heard about

meditation and think it sounds interesting

(which it is!) Or sometimes people feel

stressed by their lives or are unhappy and

dissatisfied without really knowing why.

Meditation will help you live in the present

and become calmer and happier. But it is

hard work and needs some commitment to

practising every day,

I teach a meditation technique, called

Samatha meditation, which encourages

people to develop calmness and

concentration, and having established

this, to begin to see what is happening in

their mind. This is a Buddhist practice,

and is said to be that used by the Buddha

himself 2500 years ago. It involves

sitting and watching yourself breathe

gently in and out, with different lengths

of breath and different kinds of breath

which get more subtle as time goes by.

The classes are held on the 2nd

, 4th and 5

th

Mondays of the month at the Friends

Meeting House on Orchard Road in

Malvern. They start at 7.00 o’clock and

last about an hour. In each class, I teach

the meditation technique and we all

practise together, at first for a few

minutes, but building up to half an hour.

After the group practice there’s a chance

to talk together and also talk to the

teacher about how your own meditation

is going. Payment for the class is by

donation. You don’t need to register or

book – just turn up to try it out for

yourself.

There is more information on our

website www.samatha.org, or you can

email me Pam Stanier at

malvern@samatha.org

Pam Stanier

and it’s useful to

come to a class

where you can

talk to a teacher

about how your

meditation is

going.

MALVERN WELLS 2011

A Passion For English Woodlands…

The sight of dappled sunlight streaming through the leaves – the sound of the breeze rustling through the trees - the song of the birds and that distant bark of a deer. That lovely earthy smell as the leaves start their transition to peat. Being in a wood is one of the best places to relax - to ‘chill out’ - to feel ‘at one’ with nature and at peace with the world. So – why not take this one stage further? Learn how to become involved in the ancient art of woodland management – enjoy the satisfaction of helping the regeneration of the natural landscape and make use of the raw materials that a woodland supplies in order to benefit your own personal environment. One man who has already done this and who would like you to share in his woodland vision is Phil Hopkinson. In 1999, Phil first visited Ravenshill Woodland Reserve near Malvern, Worcestershire. He was so inspired that he soon became a volunteer there – and, as they say, the rest is history. Phil’s interest developed as did his skills and he has built up a successful professional woodland management business. To quote Phil –

I believe that our native Woodlands are

a greatly ignored national asset and

that people of all ages and abilities

should have the opportunity to spend

time and experience the magical

atmosphere within English woodland.

Our Woodlands are unique, if managed

carefully have the ability to sustain a bio-

diverse range of habitats, whilst at the

same time being a totally sustainable

source of timber and a place for

recreation. With that in mind I aim to

encourage as many people as possible to

enjoy the woodland experience with me,

whether it is on a training course, a

woodland walk or other activity.

He also helps other local woodland owners manage their wood lands in a number of ways. From creating Woodland Management plans, applying for Woodland Improvement grants and felling licenses to undertaking practical work such as management of plantation on ancient woodland sites and coppicing.

The garden that won a Silver Guilt

medal at BBC Gardeners World Live

Imagine that magical

feeling of being in a

wood.

These days Phil manages areas of the Ravenshill reserve and neighbouring woodland. owners

Phil designs and creates unique handcrafted rustic exterior garden structures and buildings such as Gazebo’s and round timber framed buildings.

Visit Phil’s website:

http://www.malverncoppicing.co.uk

www.malverncoppicing.co.uk

Transition Malvern Hills

The connectedness here would be both in ourselves and between us as communities and the limits would be those and future generations.

I was delighted to be asked by Teena to write a few words

about Transition Malvern Hills (TMH). I am aware that the ways of viewing our Health Holistically, as an intrinsically connected system of Mind, Body, Emotional and Spiritual being, consciously living within appropriate limits to avoid self abuse and the abuse of others is the same basic philosophy that we are also wanting to achieve at the level of Gaia.

What is it that makes Malvern a special place to live? My wife Susan and I moved to and married here just a year ago, arriving by a magical process, she from the USA. We linked via Facebook, agreeing to meet when Susan was next visiting England. We both found ourselves in Birmingham at the same time, on Hindu day of Divine Marriage! Susan wanted to visit Malvern to see Whiteleaved Oak, an ancient Tree she had read about. The day finished with us seeing Romeo and Juliet at the Malvern theatre. We were married and living in Malvern six months later. Magic.

that allow the planet to sustain us

One obvious feature of Malvern is its unique position in the landscape. We both knew of Herefordshire’s Alfred Watkins, and his 1920’s rediscovery of the straight-line ‘Ley’ alignments of ancient sites and, also, the concept of an ancient circle of sites of ‘Perpetual choirs’ who kept up a 24hr/365 day chant. This could be understood as a singing prayer group ‘broadcasting’ thoughtforms of peace and abundance for the surrounding landscape and its people. The centre of the circle was at Whiteleaved Oak at the southern end of the Malverns, the meeting point of the Three Counties, whose three cathedrals host the Three Choirs festival - the oldest such known.

The geometry of a ten-spoked circle, of 130 miles across, is derived from references in the ancient Welsh records, ‘The Triads’, to choirs at Llantwit Major, Glastonbury and Stonehenge. From their positions ten sites can be suggested. This year a book was published by John Gibson Forty, The Interconnectedness of All Things: From the Perpetual Choirs to the Present Day. This is based on the dowsing of actual earth energy currents overlaying this decagon. His paths cover over 1100 miles, about 600 sites, of which 264 are churches, abbeys or priories. One observation made was of the increase in the width of energy lines after singing – at Little Malvern Priory an 11 times increase after the Sunday service. Similarly at Molineux football ground, during a match, with the enthusiastic cheers of 28,000 fans there was a 7 times increase. This demonstrates tangible proof that singing does affect earth energy currents. A recent demonstration of the effect of sustained and focussed music and voice was at the London Olympics, where commentators observed the extraordinary atmosphere of happiness and benevolence that had built up around the city (even traffic was calmed!).

Perpetual Landscape

The boost to national morale was tangible and Britain’s athletes achieved the unattainable. The ‘tone’ was set at the opening, by our favourite national anthem, the visionary Blakes’ Jerusalem – the idealised city - and Caliban’s dream, from Shakespeare’s Tempest (the Isle is full noises…) Is this showing us another way of ordering society, by the means of joyful voices joined as one, with the power of highest achievement?

Susan and I continue our quest along the Perpetual Choirs trail. Susan (a voice therapist) authored Sacred Space, Sacred Sound: The Acoustic Mysteries of Holy Places. www.songkeeper.net ianiam@onetel.com

By Ian Woodcock

Inprovers

Weekly classes

Monday

Gental Yoga, Inner Place, Ledbury. 9.30-

11am. ffi: Jo 07976 882252

Meridian Yoga @ The Wheel Of Life

Centre10-12noon, ffi: Alix 07816 147501

Yoga for backs, Link Top, Malvern. 2.45-

4pm. ffi: Jo 07976 882252

General Yoga, Link Top, Malvern. 4.15-

5.30pm ffi: Jo 07976 882252

Hatha Yoga, County Hall, Worcester

5.15 - 6.30pm. ffi Hilly 07828 032643

Tai Ji - Yang Family Style.

West Malvern Village Hall. 18.00 - 19.30PM ffi Catherine 07887 907331

Meditation fortnightly on Mondays,

Friends meeting house Malvern, at 7pm, 2

nd 4

th & 5

th Monday until December 10

th.

ffi Pam 01684 899117

Singing Raga, Bransford, Specific Monday

evenings. 7-9pm. ffi: Will 01886 833422

Hatha Yoga Alfrick Village Hall

7.30 - 8.45pm. ffi Hilly 07828 032643

Improvers Yoga. The Fold, Bransford.

7.45-9.15pm ffi: Jo 07976 882252

Tuesday

Tai Chi & Taoist Yoga.

The Studio at Malvern College Sports Complex. Open to all. 10.30-11.30am. ffi: Lyn Clarke 01684 566890

Hatha Yoga, Wyche Institute, Lower

Wyche Road, 6.45 - 8.15pm ffi Hilly 07828 032643

Tai Chi & Qigong for Quiet Mind,Strong

Flowing Body TM Northleigh School, Malvern, Start 11/09 7.30 to 9pm. Altair 01684 562528

Natural Voices (Community Singing

Group) 2nd

& 4th

Tuesday of each month. Year round. Malvern Link United Reform Church Hall, , 7.30 – 9.30 pm. ffi: Ros 01684 576681

Cont… Tuesday

TaiChi-Qigong, Northleigh Primary

school, St. Peter's Rd, 7.30 to 8.30 ffi: Altair 01684 562528

Simply Singing 1st

& 3rd

Tuesday of

each month. Year round. Canon Frome Court, (nr. Ledbury), 7.30 – 9.30 pm Ros 01684 576681

Wednesday

General Yoga, Inner Place, Ledbury.

9.30-11am.ffi: Jo 07976 882252

Meridian Yoga @ The Wheel Of Life

Centre. 10-12noon, ffi: Alix 07816 147501

Buddhist Meditation @ Wheel of life

7-9pm Fiona & Kaspa 01684 572444

Hatha Yoga, The Inner Place, Ledbury

6.15 - 7.30pm ffi Hilly 07828 032643

Thursday

Dance into Bliss! Biodanza

The Grove, 8 Avenue Rd Malvern 10.30-12.30pm. ffi: Altair 01684 562528

Tai Chi & Qigong for Quiet Mind,Strong

Flowing Body TM Serenity Rose Spa, 3 to 4pm Altair 01684 562528

Meridian Yoga @ The Wheel Of Life

Centre7-9pm ffi: Alix 07816 147501

Hatha Yoga – Advanced The Friends'

Meeting House, Orchard Road. 7.30 - 9pm ffi: Hilly 07828 032643

Friday

Meridian Yoga @ The Wheel Of Life

Centre 10-12pm, ffi: Alix 07816 147501

Meditation, The Fold Natural Therapy

Centre, 7 – 8 pm. ffi Raj 07766 754006

Dance into Bliss with Biodanza.

Northleigh Primary school, Malvern, 7.30 to 9.30 ffi: Altair 01684 562528

5 Rhythms Dance, Friends meeting

house. 7.30pm-9.45pm. ffi Neil 07761 856154

Weekly classes

Bowen Technique with Julia Foster

I was introduced to Bowen as an effective treatment for

non-specific lower back pain and a long term pelvic imbalance, the gentle ways of Bowen proved their worth, with many years of pain and discomfort eventually melting away.

I was introduced to Bowen as an effective treatment for non-specific lower back pain and a long term pelvic imbalance, the gentle ways of Bowen proved their worth, with many years of pain and discomfort eventually melting away. So what is Bowen?

A Bowen treatment involves a series of

gentle physical therapy moves applied

along the spine and at very specific

points of the body. Each set of moves

is interspersed with crucial pauses to

allow the body time to respond to the

treatment. These moves generate

neurological impulses which trigger the

brain and nervous system to relax

muscles, tendons and ligaments

releasing pinched nerves, tension and

stress. These neurological impulses

continue to work for approximately

one week after receiving treatment.

Bowen is a very distinct therapy that

differs from others such as massage,

chiropractic, acupuncture or

physiotherapy. There is no

manipulation of bones or kneading of

muscle tissue. Gently, it encourages

the body to bring itself back into

balance and support self -repair.

The positive effects of Bowen extend

beyond the actual areas being treated.

For example, a treatment for lower

back pain might also improve digestion and headaches because the therapy

effects positive change in the entire

body on a structural and physiological

level.

Which conditions could Bowen help?

The most common presentations are musculo-skeletal eg back, neck, should pain/restriction, Sciatica…… However increasingly clients are presenting with energetic and/or systemic conditions eg difficulty sleeping, ME/Adrenal Exhaustion, migraines, irritable bowel symptoms. The treatment itself is very calming and many chose it purely as a form of stress management. Who would most benefit from Bowen Technique? ‘From cradle to grave’, Bowen is suitable for all, even the frailest individual. Increasingly advocated by Midwives during pregnancy and beyond for both mother and baby, Bowen is also gaining quite a reputation globally by various sporting groups eg skiing, athletics, rugby as they have discovered not only does it help keep the body aligned and deal with soft tissue injuries, but it improves recovery time. The adventurer Bear Grylls is a well-known recipient and advocate of the therapy. Want to know more? View my website : www.bowen-tech.co.uk or call me:

07964 298 337. Appointments are available at the Natural Therapy Centre @ The Fold, Bransford. (Just 3 miles from Malvern) Ample free parking is available.

JENNIE SHERINGHAM Nurse & former Midwife

Acupuncturist / Reflexologist

Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture

*STRESS * INSOMNIA * ANXIETY

* BACK/JOINT PAIN * HEADACHES

* WEIGHT CONTROL / SKIN CARE

*Women’s Health / Hormonal Issues

*Fertility Support & Pregnancy Care

07850 064684

www.jenniesheringham.co.uk

www.wheeloflifecentre.co.uk

HOLISTIC

HEALTH

CARE

Tai Chi Taoist Yoga

Come along for a taster class.

This is a very ancient art passed down through the ages form China. It is both a martial art and healing art. In these classes we will be practicing the healing application of Tai Chi and the Taoist yoga which permeates through the tai chi forms.

This is a Gentle way to strengthen the body both inside and out. Tai Chi is suitable for all ages and abilities. Practice can be beneficial for people seeking better balance within a busy lifestyle and also for people recovering from illness or fatigue.

Some of the many benefits of practising are feeling more relaxed and focussed both physically and mentally. The Tai Chi forms and breath work open up, relax and expand the lungs allowing the breath to permeate through the body. The postural and breathing forms are designed to improve physical balance, flexibility, and improve blood flow, building, relaxing and strengthening mind and body.

We will be learning the short Tai Chi form and Kai Men breathing from the Li Family system, as taught by Master Chee Soo.

( Master Chee Soo has published several books on Tai Chi Chuan, Kai Men, Diet therapy and Martial arts forms. Published by Thorsons.

Morning class:

Tuesdays at 10.30-11.30 am

With Lyn Clarke

The Studio @ Malvern

College Sports Complex Free for members and £4.50 non

members.

Book a place at the sports

complex reception. 01684 581681

______________________________

______________________________

__________________________

To advertise in Malvern Hillistic contact Teena 07788 632441

Autumn Hillistic Mists

21st December 2012

The Winter Solstice

The Return of The Light

The Solstices is a time to stop. To look back on where the half-yearly cycle has bought you, and to look forward to how you will use the

developing energy.

Meditation on the Beacon 12.12pm On the Saturday 22/12/12

All welcome